Circuit restorer



June 3, 1952 c, THUMlM 2,599,294

CIRCUIT RESTORER Filed April 6, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET l 0/1. LEVEL\ lnventoh; Carl Thumim,

His Attorney.

June 3, 1952 c. THUMIM CIRCUIT RESTORER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 6, 1948 W 7 M 7% & w W 8/ 38 iv M mm w n 5 .d 9 3% 5 m an m w mo an 5 6 1 m a f n i M 5%. a a 4 5 4 Th 9 a s w 7 www w 5 9 u w m m d 0 7 5/ a II I m? fi L r 8 A0 A. H m. a H 3 Ill 3 sion port 35 permits the escape of interrupting pressure fluid from within the arcing chamber 26 into the surrounding chamber formed within the housing 4, in which oil is contained up'to the approximate level indicated in Fig. 1.

Also as in the aforesaid Lincks et al. patent, a somewhat resilient connection between the fixed arcing contact 36 and the flanged portion |3 oi the terminal stud 2 is afforded by the U-shaped member 34 which is pressed into abutting engagement with the terminal flange I3 by the small compressional spring 37 which insures good contact between the arcing contact 36 and the terminal 2. The adjusting nut 38 which is held in position by the lock nut 39 serves to hold the member 34 in place. A suitable washer such as the cup-shaped member 40 may be provided to absorb the shock when the contacts close.

Cooperating with the fixed interrupting contact 36 there is shown a movable contact 4| which is secured to the contact rod 42. The contact rod 42 is disposed within an armature 43 constructed of magnetic material such as iron. Armature 43 is guided by the sleeve 56a and the aforementioned bushing 25. Secured to the upper end of the armature 43 so as to constitute a light-weight extension thereof is a sleeve 44 constructed of non-magnetic material such as brass. Disposed about the contact rod 42 and inside the sleeve 44 is a compressional spring 46 which engages at its lower end the upper end of the armature 43. The upper end of the spring 45 engages the terminal block 46 which is threadedly secured to the contact rod 42 at its upper end as can best be seen in Fig. 6. Accordingly, the spring 45 provides a resilient coupling and lost-motion means between the contact and its actuating armature.

The complete circuit through the interrupter is not shown in the drawings and hence will be described in detail. As will be seen from Fig. 6, the terminal block 46 is provided with a terminal screw 47 to which is connected a flexible conductor 48. Flexible conductor 48 is connected to one end of the coil 24 while the other end of the coil 24 is connected to the terminal I. The circuit through the interrupter comprises the terminal 2, the member 34, the fixed contact 36, the movable contact 4|, the contact rod 42, terminal block 46, flexible lead 46, operating coil 24, and through a conductor, not shown, to the terminal I.

Thus it will seen that the operating coil 24 is in series with the line circuit and hence carries the load current. Should the current through the interrupter be in excess of a predetermined amount, the armature 43 will be elevated together with the sleeve 44. The terminal block 46 remains stationary with the contact 4| for the latter remains in engagement with the fixed contact 36 for a predetermined time after the initiation of the upward movement of armature 43 as will be more fully understood as the description proceeds.

Comparing Fig. l with Fig. 6 it will be observed that the terminal block 46-constitutes a transverse crosshead atop the contact rod 42, the ends of which receive a pair of links 56 and which overhang beyond the armature tube 44. Hence for permitting telescoping relative movement between contact rod 42 and the armature 43, a pair of vertical slots 44a are provided in the upper end of the armature tube 44 within which slots the block or crosshead 46 may slide whenever telescoping movement occurs.

For the purpose of latching the contact 4| in the downward or closed position, the latching member 50 which is pivotally mounted at the fixed pivot 5| to the supporting plate 22 engages the restraining pin 52 mounted across the forked arms 53. Arms 53 are pivotally mounted to the plate 22 by a fixed pin 54 and are pivotally con nected at their free ends by the pins 55 to the pair of vertical links 56. Links 56 are pivotally connected by the pins 57 to the terminal block 46, as best shown in Fig. 6. Thus with latch 50 occupying the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and l, the contact rod 42 is effectively latched in the down or closed position. The curved surface of the latch 56 which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 is in engagement with the pin 52, is eccentric with respect to the pivot pin 5| to provide for contact wear. As wear takes place, the contact rods closed position is slightly lower and the latch 56 wedgingly assumes a lower or deeper I engagement with respect to pin 52.

For unlatching the closed contact 4| only in the event that a predetermined overcurrent flows through the series coil 24, i. e. only when the armature 43 has lifted substantially a full stroke, I couple the contact latch 50 to the armature sleeve extension 44 by means of the slotted link 6|. The upper end of this link is connected by pivot pin 62 through the lug or bracket 60 which is afiixed to the upper end of armature sleeve 44, while the slot 63 in link 6| rides about a pin overhung from the latch 56. Accordingly, the armature must move upwardly somewhat more than the length of the slot 63 before the contact unlatches, at which point the now compressed spring 45 will cause the crosshead 46 and its depending contact structure to move upward to circuit-open position.

For the purpose of manually lifting the armature for operating the above contact opening mechanism, I provide a connecting link 65 which is pivoted at its lower end by pin 62 to the lug 60 and which is pivotally connected by its upper pin 66 to the internal arm 67 of an oifset bell crank. The external arm 69 of the offset bell crank, which projects from a pocket provided in the cover 3, is rigidly coupled to the internal arm 67 by means of their common keyed shaft 68 which is suitably journalled in the cover 3. The outer end of the external arm 69 is provided with an opening 70 through which a hooked stick may be inserted and moved downwardly for the purpose of elevating the left hand end of the arm 67 thereby to open the contacts as already indicated.

In order to lock the contacts in the open position upon completion of a manual opening movement, I provide an external latch 7| which is pivoted to a projecting hood portion of the cover 3 by a fulcrum pin 72 and which is frictionally held in a particular position by the action of compression spring 73 as disclosed more fully in the above-mentioned Lincks et a1. patent. The latch 7| is constructed with a latching sur face 74 toward its upper end. Mounted on the manual crank arm 69 is a projecting stud 75 which catches under the latching surface 74 of the latch 7| when the external arm 69 is moved downwardly to open contact position. In order to release the latch, it is only necessary to push upwardly on the surface 75 of the latching member 7| to cause the surface 74 to disengage the stud 75 and thereby to permit counterclockwise movement of the bell crank which in turn permits the link 66, the sleeve 44, and the armature 43 to move downwardly together with the contactrod 42 and the contact M to the .contact closed position.

It will be understood that my invention could beadapted to perform, within limits, a relatively wide range of opening and closing operations wherein certain of these operations would be time-delayed and wherein certain others would be made to: occur almost: instantly. For persistent faults, the particular embodiment of my inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 5. is adapted to perform a first instantaneousopening opera.- tion followed byapredeterminednumber of time.- delayed opening operations. while, at the. same time, retaining the capability of performing a time-delayed. closing operation following. each opening operation. as in the. aforementioned Walle patent irrespective .of whether the. open.- ing he instantaneous. or timeedelayed'. More specifically, the .about-to-be-described timing mechanism of my invention providesfor, in. the event of a sustained fault circuit above a predetermined current magnitude, the following .operating sequence or cycle: (a-). a substantially instantaneous opening; (1)) a time-delayed, reclosure; .(c) a time-delayed opening; (11) a sec- .ond time-delayed reclosure; (e). .a second timedelayed opening; (f) and final IOGknQllt-I in the open position.

The above identified sequence of operations is governed by the. timing mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 8.0. In. this device 28 of. my invention, I employ a time-delaying element, preferably. of the mechanical escapement type, which is driven. for an. intermittent period during each reclosingmovement as in the aforementioned Walle patent; and furthermore, I

drive this same time-delaying element for an intermittent period, and selectively, in accordance with certain predetermined opening operations. In addition, I cause a lock-out producing member to be advanced through a predetermined increment whenever a delayed reclosing or delayed opening operation is effected by the retarding action of. the said. time-delaying element so that ultimately, at the termination of the predetermined reclosing cycle, the total displacement .of. said lock-out member has conditioned the device for preventing a further reclosure of the interrupter contacts.

For the purpose of governing the opening characteristics of the device 80, there is provided a pivoted carrier member 8.] which is supported near its mid-point forrotation about the shaft 82 which is journally mounted in the frame comprising at least one side plate 22. Carried by the left hand end of. the member 8! is what conveniently maybe identified as the opening gear 83 which at all times is in mesh with the teeth of the gear 84 which'is secured to and rotatable with the shaft 82. A tension spring 85 biases the carrier member 8| for rotation in overhangs the rear surface of the gear wheel 81. Gear wheel 81, which is the look-out producing member of my device, is mounted for rotation about the shaft88 and is biased for rotation in the counterclockwise direction about the shaft 83 by its spiral resetting spring 89 one end of which is fixed tothe near side of the supporting frame. A crank pin 86 alsooverhangs from the 'front surface of gear wheel 81 forithe lock-out purposewhich will. become. apparent hereinafter.

above-described trains of gearsber whereby intermittent. coupling between. the

contact structure andthe timer mechanism180. is accomplished, is. secured to' the. armature. sleeve 45 and hence is movable. therewith... The; pin

58, which is secured to the plate. 22, acts; as. a

guide for sleeve. 44 and is. positioned as. shown for countering the lateral thrust component. to be applied to the rack. With reference. to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the. rack 9.! is. free to move without engaging the teeth of the open.-

ing gear .33. Thus, a first. opening operation is made substantially instantaneously since the opening gear 83 is maintained; byits carrier 8! out of engagement with the. rack 91 due to the interference of the. crank pin..90.; hence no. movement whatever of the timer device 89 is produced coincident withv thisv initial opening stroke of the armature 4.3.

For the purpose of accomplishing time-delayed closing operations, I provide what may be. con:- veniently termed the closing gear 92 which is journalled at as into its carrier member in the form of an arm 94 which in turn is pivotedabout the fixed shaft 95. Arm. S4 is biased against the fixed stop at by the tension spring 91. but is. free to move a limited amount in the clockwisedirection about the shaft 95 until they arm 94 encounters its other stop ea A gear 89 is rotatable about the shaft 95 in response to. rotation of the closing gear 92 for gears t2 and 99 are in mesh at all times. The gear me is secured to the gear Q9 and hence rotates therewith about the shaft e5. Mounted on the shaft Hll and meshing with gear not is a pinion [$2 which is secured to the timer ratchet wheel me. An oscillatory verge member I34 constitutes a common watch escapement with the ratchet wheel I33 to produce. a retarded or time-delayed rotation thereof. in a manner well known in the art. Thus,.the closing gear 92 is always connected to the timer ratchet lot through the above gear train. For inter.- meshing the opening gear 83 to the same timer ratchet I93, I have mounted for rotation about the shaft H35 a large gear me which meshes with the timer pinion Hi2. Secured to. the gear ['05 and rotatable therewith is a. pinion 1,9! which engages the teeth of the. gear Hi8 which in .turn

is secured to and rotatable. with the shaft 82 which, as pointedout above,.is journallymounted on the supporting plate 22. Because thepinion 79, as well as the gears 84 and H38 are all secured to their common shaft 82,. all these members, rotate as a unit.

From the above explanation it will .now be appreciated that wheneverthe closing gear 92,01 the opening gear 83, is caused to rotate.,.as by meshing engagement with the racket, then such rotational movement will. be subjectto. the retardation of the escapement device or.verge: fMsdne to the complete and positive. intermeshing of the Furthermore and for the same reason, it will be understood that any rotation of either the closing .or-the opening gear will produce a;co rresponding rotational increment of the look-out gear 81, each increment being in the same clockwise rotational direction.

When a current through the interrupter exceeds a predetermined value, the coil 24 will be energized sufiiciently to elevate the armature 4 3,

7 the sleeve 44, thesupportingmember the links 6| and (accompanied by clockwise rotational movement of the bell crank comprisingarms 61 and 09) as well as the gear rack 9|. The gear rack 9| moves freely past the opening gear 83 since from Figs. 1 and 2 it will be evident that this gear is out of the path of motion or the rack 9|. However, the closing gear 92 does lie in the path of the rack, although, when the rack 9| strikes the closing gear 92, its carrier arm 94 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the fixed shaft 95 through a relatively small angle limited by the stop 98 so that the gear 92 is in effect merely brushed aside by the rack 9|until the rack 9| and parts associated therewith will have reached the upper limit of travel, i. e. when the armature 43 strikes its guide bushing 9t. Coincident with downward movement from this extreme upper position, the rack 9| will intermesh with the closing gear 92 due to the resetting action of tension spring 97 and the thrust relationship which is now established between the carrier arm 94 and the rack 9| so that the latter now is connected in driving engagement with the timer mechanism 90.

Because of the resilient drive afforded by the spring 45 between the armature 93 and the con tact structure through the crosshead 49, it will be perceived that contact 4| will be lifted from contact 30 as soon as it is unlatched which unlatching occurs toward the end or the armature upward travel as will now be explained in detail. .As the armature 43, the sleeve 44, the supporting member 90 and the link 0| move upwardly, the pin 64 on the latch 99 rides in the slot I53 so that, when it is picked up by the lower end of the slot 63, the latch 59 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about its pivot 9|. This action moves the latch 59 out of engagement with the pin 52 and permits the arm 93 to rotate counterclockwise about its pivot 94 thereby permitting the links 50, the crosshead 49, the contact rod 42 and the contact iI to move together rapidly upward thereby to part the contacts 30 and 4| for drawing and extinguishing an are therebetween. The oil blast generated within the arcing chamber 29 is expelled through the port 35 in the pressure confining casing 28.

After the rack 9| has enmeshed the closing gear 92 as explained above, the armature 43 and contact parts associated therewith move downwardly in unison under the reclosing force of gravity. Because the rack 9| now is in driving engagement with the closing gear 92, this gear willbe rotated in the counterclockwise direction which causes the gear 99 and the gear I00 to rotate clockwise. This action through the timer pinion I02 causes the gear I06 and pinion I01 to rotate clockwise which in turn causes the united gears I08, 84 and pinion I9 to rotate counterclockwise. This train of action causes the gear wheel 81 to rotate clockwise against the bias of its resetting spring 89 resulting in a predetermined increment of advance of the pin eflctive impediment, because the opening gear 83 is merely brushed aside by the rack 9| during'this reclosing operation in a similar'manner as described for the closing gear 92 in the opening operation and no significant time-delay is attributable to this incidental non-meshing action.

While the first portion of the above-described reclosing downward movement is taking place, i. e. while closing gear 92 and rack 9| are in mesh, the ratchet wheel I03 introduces a timedelaying action since the ratchet wheel is seecured to and rotatable with the timer pinion I02 and is retarded by the oscillatory action of the verge member I04.

After the mechanism has opened substantially instantaneously and reclosed with time-delay as described, the carrier 8| will occupy the abovementioned interfering position so that, if the fault persists, a second opening operation will occur which, unlike the first, will be attended by the rack 9| meshing with the opening gear 03 during the armatures upward travel as shown in Fig, 4 so that the look-out gear wheel 81 is rotated a further increment in the clockwise direction by the action of pinion and gear 19 and 84 which are interposed between the opening gear 83 and the gear wheel 81 as explained above. This opening movement is accompanied by timedelay due to the action of the oscillatory verge member I04 as in the time-delay reclosing movement. When the rack 9| moves out of mesh from the opening gear 83, the rack and mechanism associated therewith become free to move upwardly without further significant impediment, since the rack will now proceed to brush the closing gear 92 to the right without effect as previously explained.

At this point, it will be understood that, during the period the timer mechanism has been coupled by the opening gear 83 through the rack 9| to the armature structure, the latter has not lifted sufliciently high for unlatching the closed contacts. Thus they have been maintained closed following the first reclosure for a predetermined time-delay, so that here an opportunity is provided for the fault circuit to burn itself clear. It will also be appreciated that the gear ratios of the train between the timer ratchet I03 and the opening or closing gears respectively may be chosen so that appropriate time-delays are produced for either the delayed opening or closing operations. For example, in the embodiment shown, I provide for much greater resistance during opening than closing, in view of the higher opening forces encountered, by gearing for a greater number of oscillations of the control verge member I04 in the case of the delayed opening compared to the delayed closing operation.

When the rack has reached the uppermost position, the contacts will have separated and the closing gear 92 will intercept and engage the rack 9| as it descends as previously explained so that a second reclosing operation will be accomplished with time-delay which will result in a further increment of rotation of the gear 01 which further advances the crank pins 86 and projecting therefrom.

If a fault persists it will be understood that a predetermined number of above-described timedelayed opening and reclosing operations will continue in rapid intermittent sequence, each one of which will produce a further increment of advance to the look-out gear 81. This gear's intermittent clockwise rotation will proceed with negligible back-tracking from return spring 89 for the reason that practically no time elapses between the reclosure of the contacts and the reenergization by the fault current of the coil 24; accordingly, the total angular displacement of the lock-out gear 81 is substantially the sum 01 all the intermittent closing and opening angular increments produced during the whole predetermined reclosing cycle, assuming of course, thata permanent fault is involved. It further will be appreciated that the gear reduction be.- tween the look-out gear 81 and the opening or closing gears may be chosen for producing predetermined angular increments of advance for the delayed closing or opening operations respectively. In my chosen embodiment depicted inv the drawings, I have shown an arrangement in. which the, closing increment tor the gear 81 is small compared to the larger opening increment.

From the above explanation it will be discerned that I may terminate the reclosing cycle after a predetermined number of reclosures by applying means for arresting the angular advance of the gear 81, for in so doing the whole gear train of the timer mechanism 80, including the closing and opening gears, is prevented from further rotation. Moreover, it will be understood that stoppage of the gear 81 during a reclosing cycle will result .in looking the recloser either in the contact open position on the one hand or in contact closed position on the other, depending on whether such stoppage occurs while the gear 81 is advancing through a closing increment as in Figs. 3 or 5, or through an opening increment as in Fig. 4. In other words, stopping the gear 81 will stall the contacts either in the open position, i. e. when the rack 9| is in mesh (or about to enmesh) with the closing gear 92.; or, on the other hand, it will stall the contacts in the closed position, i. e. when the rack 9! is in mesh (or about to enmesh) the opening gear 83. Accordingly, I may provide suitable stop means in the path of the look-out gears crank pin 86 for terminating the reclosing cycle after a predetermined number of reclosing operations. I can predetermine the position of the stop so that it is effective for establishing a final lockout position for the contacts on the one hand as in the aforesaid Walle patent; or, on the other hand, I may choose to position the stop. in another locationso. that the contacts finally become locked closed, as in the aforesaid Lincks et a1. patent.

I. provide such a stop in the form of the pin H which. is shown in the slot I] IV of a fragment H2 of the mechanism supporting frame. Obvlously I may afiix this stop in any location within the slot for predetermined interference with the closing gears crank pin 86 for terminating the reclosing cycle with either a lock-open or lock-closed final position for the contacts. Furthermore, it will be apparent that a conversion from the lock-closed to the lock-open setting (or vice verse) is efiectedmerely by unfastening the stop pin. 1 In from one position and installing it in an alternative blocking position.

Because it is more common to arrange oil circuit restorers for terminating their reclosing cycle withv the contacts left open, I have arranged the final stop means. in the chosen embodiment as depicted in the drawings so as to insure contact lock-out, that is, with the rack 9| hanging on the stalled closing gear 92 as in Fig. 5, irrespective of whether or not the lockout, gear 81. is arrested during a closing increment, .or perhaps inadvertently, during an opening increment. To this end, I arrange the stop pin H0 so that it will block the crank pin 85 from further rotation after the gear has rotated one complete revolution, in other words, just when the gears of the crank pin 96 has advanced to its original position as seen in Fig. 2 so. that it again cants the carrier member 8! with its opening gear 83 clear of the rack 9| as depicted in Fig. 5. Accordingly with this arrangement, if it should happen that the pin H0 stops motion of the gear train by blocking the crank pin 86 at any time other than when the gear 9| and the closing gear 92 are enmeshed, the energized coil 24 would. instantly raise the armature and contact structure to the look-out position shown in. Fig. 5for the reason that the opening gear 83 has been rendered non-interfering by the pin 90.-

In this arrangement I provide for a full 360 degree rotation of the look-out gear 81, as illustrated during the cycle of Figs. 2 through 5, by supporting the stop pin I it slidingly, rather than fixedly, within the slot Ill. Consequently, in the normal or reset contact closed position of Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the look-out gears resetting spring 89 has caused crank pin 86 to move the stop pin Hi) to the right hand end of slot III; while, at the completion of the reclosing cycle as depicted in Fig. 5, the pin H9 has been moved over by crank pin 85 to the other end of the slot in which it assumes its lockedopen stop position. By comparing Figs. 2 and 5, it will be evident that this lost-motion stop device constituted by the pin HD in the slot HI provides for the full 360 degree rotation of the crank pin 99 whereby the reclosing cycle both commences and terminates with the opening gear 83 held in non-meshing position. For the above described arrangement, it will be understood that I have selected gear ratios which will give appropriate closing and opening increments so that the predetermined number of reclosures will have been effected when the look-out gear 31 has rotated through one complete revolution.

In its broader aspects, it will be perceived that the above-described timer mechanism of my invention may be regarded as comprising a pair of delay producing pawls; one of which is a closing pawl constituted by the gear 92 and its carrier arm 96, and the other an opening pawl constituted by the gear 83 and its carrier member 8|, with means provided for rendering the opening pawl inoperative at appropriate times during the reclosing cycle.

The indicator tabs marked closed and open in Fig. 1 are disposed opposite the right hand end of the external crank arm 69 and hence serve as indicators to the observer to show whether the contacts are in the opened or the closed positions.

If. the breaker is locked open after a persistent fault, or remains closed after one or more reclosures because the fault meanwhile has cleared, the spring 89 thereafter will rotate the gear wheel 81, together with the gears constituting the whole train, back to the reset position shown in Figs 1 and 2 with the pin as once more underneath the lower right hand surface of the carrier member 8| and with the look-out pin 86 engaging.

its limiting stop Ht. This resetting movement will. be slow because the timer ratchet 103, of course, is always in mesh with the gear train.

After the manual release by the latch H from a manual opening operation, it will be. clear that the contacts will close with time-delay because of the rack 9| meshing with the closing gear 92. Accordingly, lock-out gear 81 rotates resulting in the movement of pin 90 away from the holding position with respect to carrier member 8| so that the opening gear 83 assumes its pick-up position in the path of the rack. Therefore, any immediate tendency to re-open is prevented so that, if high transients as from starting loads exist temporarily, the device will not operate to open and close its contacts unnecessarily.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an electric circuit reclosing device, relatively movable contacts biased into engagement, electromagnetic means for initiating an opening operation of said device in response to predetermined fault conditions, means responsive to operation of said electromagnetic means for opening said contacts, a rotatable timing member, a rack movable in accordance with the operation of said electromagnetic means and in accordance with closing movement of said contacts, a closing gear operatively connected with said timin member and rotatable in response to closing movement of said rack to determine the time required automatically to reclose said contacts after an-interrupting operation, an openin gear operatively connected with said timing member, and means movable in response to closing movement of said contacts to cause said opening gear to engage with said rack during an opening movement of said rack for rotating said member to control the time required to open said contacts during preselected opening operations of said contacts.

2. In an electric circuit reclosing device, relatively movable contacts biased into engagement, electromagnetic means for sensing predetermined fault conditions of the controlled circuit and for initiatin an opening operation of said device in response to such fault conditions, means responsive to operation of said electromagnetic means for separating said contacts, a rotatable time delay member, a rack movable in response to operation of said electromagnetic means, an opening gear operatively connected with said member and rotatable by said rack in response to an opening operation of said rack which closely succeeds a prior opening operation thereof for rotating said rotatable member to delay opening of said contacts during preselected opening operations of said contacts, a closing gear operatively connected with said member and rotatable in response to closing movement of said rack for rotating said rotatable member to delay closing of said contacts, a stop member, and a pin on said rotatabl member for engaging said stop member after a predetermined angular rotation of said rotatable member to prevent further rotation of said rotatable member thereby to cause said contacts to be locked in the open circuit position upon engagement of said rack with said closing gear.

3. In an electric circuit reclosing device, relatively movable contacts biased into engagement, electromagnetic means for sensing predetermined fault conditions of the controlled circuit and for initiating an opening operation of said device in response to such fault conditions, means responsive to operation of said electromagnetic means for separatin said contacts, a rotatable member, a rack movable in response to operation of said electromagnetic means and in accordance with closing movement of said contacts, a timing mechanism, a closing gear rotatable in response to closing movement of said rack for rotating said member and for operating said timing mechanism to determine the time required automatically to reclose said contacts after an interrupting operation, an opening gear operatively connected with said timing mechanism. and means movable in response to closing movement of said contacts to cause said opening gear to engage with said rack during an opening operation of said rack for rotating said member and for operating said timing mechanism to control the time required to open said contacts during preselected opening operations of said contacts, and means for limiting the rotation of said member to a predetermined amount to lock said closing gear against closing rotation thereby to hold said contacts in the open circuit position.

4. In an electric circuit reclosing device, relatively movable contacts biased into engagement, electromagnetic means for sensing predetermined fault conditions of the controlled circuit and for initiatin an opening operation of said device in response to such fault conditions, means responsive to operation of said electromagnetic means for separating said contacts,

" a rotatable member, a rack movable in response to operation of said electromagnetic means and in accordance with closing movements of said contacts, a timing mechanism operably connected with said rotatable member, an opening gear rotatable in response to an opening operation of said rack immediately following a prior operation thereof for rotating said member and for operating said timing mechanism to control the time required to open said contacts during preselected opening operations of said contacts, a closing gear rotatable in response to closing movement of said rack for rotating said member and for operating said timing mechanism to determine the time required automatically to reclose said contacts after an interrupting operation, means for limiting the rotation of said member to a predetermined amount to lock said. closing gear against closing rotation thereby to hold said contacts in the open circuit position, and manually operable means for releasing said rack from said closing gear to cause said contacts to close due to the action of said means for closing said contacts.

CARL THUMIM.

EEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,604,669 Van Valkenburg Oct. 26, 1926 2,069,082 Walle Jan. 26, 1937 2,249,813 Dyer July 22, 1941 2,311,714 Thompson Feb. 23, 194-3 2,318,343 Thompson May 4, 1943 2,333,604 Wallace Nov. 2, 1943 2,405,606 Rawlins et al Aug. 13, 1946 2,414,786 Lincks Jan. 21, 1947 2,464,303 Gesellschap Mar. 15, 1949 2,487,025 Matthews Nov. 1, 1949 

